Danica Patrick said she didn't mean to send Sam Hornish into the wall when she tapped him following the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Talladega.

Patrick, angry that Hornish had pinched her into the wall as they raced for 12th coming to the checkered flag, tapped Hornish’s rear bumper after the race was over. Hornish, who already had a flat right side tire that he said resulted in his car skidding up the track toward Patrick at the finish, hit the wall.

Danica Patrick was surprised when Sam Hornish Jr. went into the wall at Talladega after her contact with his car. What she didn't know is that Hornish had a flat tire that made that far easier to happen. (AP Photo)

“I went up to give him a tap (to say), 'I'm not happy with the fact you put me in the wall coming to the checkered flag.'” Patrick told USA Today on Monday. “Since his right front was flat, he turned to the right when I tapped him."

NASCAR officials said they would talk with Patrick and Hornish this Friday at Darlington to make sure there is no more retaliation on the track between the two drivers, who both have their roots in IndyCar racing before making the transition to stock cars.

Patrick told USA Today that she and Hornish remain friends, and she called Nationwide Series director Joe Balash on Sunday morning.

"I said, 'Hey this wasn't what I was trying to do; I don't want you to think this is my style,'" Patrick said. "I wanted to make sure everyone knew what was going on. I'm glad there was a reason (for Hornish hitting the wall) because it caught me by surprise."